Wilson County Director of Schools Dr. Tim Setterlund said the recent dismissals of two long-term educators were not decisions I made just on a whim.

While he declined to discuss the specifics behind the dismissal last Thursday of Jill Micco, supervisor of special education, and on Friday of Bill Moss, supervisor of Career Technical Education (CTE), Setterlund said, "Part of it is, I have to have a central office staff that shares the same vision that I have for the district and to support that."

Setterlund, who has been on the job since July 1, said it should not come as a surprise to anyone that he may make some changes in the Central Office staff.

"Not everyone may share my vision," he said. "I'm examining the whole Central Office structure to ensure that it is efficient, cost effective and will achieve the goals of the district."

Moss had been employed in the Wilson County School system since 1983, first as the assistant principal at Lebanon High School. In 1988, he was named vocational director.

Moss was named by Wilson County Commission to serve as superintendent of Wilson County Schools in August 1989 after the death of Superintendent W.A. Wright in July of that year in an automobile accident. Moss served as superintendent until the election in August 1990, when he was defeated by Kip Puryear to serve out the remainder of Wrights term.

In 1996, Moss became principal of the Career Technical Center. In 2012, he was promoted to the supervisor position.

Setterlund said the decision to let Moss and Micco go "were decisions that I gave careful consideration to and agonized over. I had to weigh the investment in time and energy in getting them pointed in the right direction that I want the district to go and then equipping them with the skills necessary versus looking for somebody that already has that same vision and skill sets."

An additional reason was money in the case of Moss, whose annual salary was close to $100,000. Setterlund said the position was eliminated and that Jennifer Cothron and Monty Wilson, both supervisors of secondary education, will absorb Moss duties.

The responsibilities of Miccos position will be divided among a team of three individuals who reported to her, Setterlund said.

Attempts to contact Moss and Micco for comments were unsuccessful.

Correspondent Amelia Morrison Hipps may be contacted at amhipps@downhomepolitics.com.